DOUGAL HOWARD will make his long-awaited return from an ACL injury against the Glenelg reserves on Friday night.

Port Adelaide must usually select AFL players for its SANFL League side before contract players, however, applied for special dispensation to have Howard play a 'seconds' game instead of in the full-flight at Gliderol Stadium.

He can play a percentage of the game - not the entirety - as a result.

It will be his first game since the injury occurred back in Round 13, 2016. 

Port Adelaide's league game will follow the reserves, commencing at 7.10pm on Friday night.

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